|
Horse Breeding Contact |
||
|
Cherubim Equestrian |
Contact Name |
Contact E-Mail |
|
Horse Breeding |
Rosi |
|
Weissenfels Horse breeding Namibia.
The Development of the Nooitgedacht Horse breed.
In 1951 the South African Department of Agriculture bought a nucleus group of Basuto type ponies and in 1952 they started a breeding project on the Nooitgedacht Research Station. They did this primarily to save the Basuto pony from extinction, but also because South Africa required a farm and riding horse to suit the African harsh conditions.
A departmental committee consisting of Prof F N Bonsma and J Bisschop and Mr. Lategan, carefully selected the horses which would be the founding stock of the Nooitgedacht breed. A stallion Vonk plus mares were bought from Mr. J A N Cloete from Molteno, and some mares were also purchased from Mr. M G Willemse of Memel. The stud of Mr. Cloete was well known even prior to the Anglo- boer War.
Due to inbreeding two additional stallions were added. A Boer Horse stallion and a part bred Arab stallion. Vonk's progeny dominated the breeding project to such an extent that every member of the Nooitgedacht breed today is a descendant of Vonk, either on the side of the sire or the dam or both.
A very high foaling percentage, some 90 per cent, was maintained at Nooitgedacht. The selection was extremely strict and only four ponies were kept.
Due to the efforts of Mr W M Bosman who was responsible for the horses and others like Dr N Barrie who was in charge of the research station, Prof Bisschop, Dr Grobbelaar and many others who had contributed in different ways a scientific breed developed.
In 1967 eight daughter studs were established as part of the project. In 1968 the Nooitgedacht Breeders Association was formed by participants in the project, and breeders standards were established.
The Cherubim Equestrian Centre and Stud
The Stud was founded in June 2001 by Rosi Rohr and Winston Retief, on the farm Weissenfels 110km west of Windhoek in Namibia.
Namibia being a very arid country took some decision making as to which breed would suit the environment best. Finally a selection on Registered Nooitgedacht mares were purchased from the Colihei stud just outside Pretoria, which formed the foundation stock of the stud. The selection was made on temperament and configuration. Strong hardy horses, which could survive on field grazing with no additional supplements were required. The choice was excellent and the mares adapted well.
Four of the mares will retire this year at the age of 19years. They will spend the rest of their days in the "Old age" camp just grazing and lazing around.
At the time the mares were purchased no stallion caught our fancy and we settled on putting them to stud with our Quarter Horse stallion Heza Sugar Burner. The foals that were born from this cross were strong sturdy and exceptionally well tempered. All foals were sold to riding schools country wide as well as to South Africa.
STALLIONS
In 2002 our first Nooitgedacht Stallion, Arop Markus, was purchased from the Arop stud outside Grootvlei.
A second Stallion, Arop Reemus, was purchased from the Arop Stud in 2007.
When considering Stallions we found that the Arop Stallions best suited our mares.
Cherubim King Arthur is our homebred stallion Sired by Arop Markus by Univers Kandas.
Breeding
The stud is very set on breeding perfection. A trademark of our horses is their strong backs and hard hooves. Their temperaments are an added bonus.
They are sturdy and compact horses with a slight dish face profile. Straight well-formed legs and good gates. Even during draught conditions they keep their condition and thrive on the Namibian grasslands. All mares are trained and critically evaluated before they are put to stud. Mares with even the slightest deformities are trained and sold as riding horses. In this selection temperament is number one priority. Young mares are only put to the stallion at the age of 4 years. This we believe will reduce the possibility of the mare suffering from nutritional deficiencies later in life, as they receive no additional feed during the months of pregnancy. They therefore need to be strong and well developed when receiving the stallion.
Mares are rotated so that they foal every second season. Mares giving weak foals are removed from the pool, trained and sold to riding schools.
The stallions stay with their herds for 9 months of the year and are only removed to attend shows or for training sessions. During the foaling season each stallion receives one mare to pacify him and keep him occupied. In this period the stallions are kept in 5-hectare camps, giving them ample space to move around, until the next season starts.
By applying these methods we find that our stallions are relaxed and passive when visiting shows or during training sessions where they have to work alongside mares. To date only one colt has been selected for breeding.
THE LIFE OF A FOAL AFTER BIRTH
Our foaling season is between February and April of each year. The foals are born outside in 200-hectare camps situated close to the house. The mares and foals are monitored when they come in for water. If a mare does not appear with the group, the riders are sent out to find her and check if the foal is in order. From day one this small foal must follow its mother to the water trophs, over the rough, stony terrain through riverbeds and over hills. Watching the foals at the age of a month is most spectacular. The charge and buck over the stones, racing each other down slopes, in total control over their legs and bodies. In total balance.
Although all mares are halter trained and handled after the birth, no foal is handled prior to the age of 3 years. They grow up in close proximity of humans but have the choice of wanting to be touched or not.
What amazes our guests, is the fact that one can move through the herd without them scattering in all directions. They will come up close, some will allow us to scratch them, and others will just try to nip a shirt or nibble a shoe. The extreme shy horses will stand some meters away just watching.
TRAINING
By the age of three these foals have established their place in the herd. Have developed their own personalities and are total free spirits who respond to training with vigour and enthusiasm. Interested in each new step introduced by the trainer.
Their days are filled with all kinds of interesting obstacles from balls to canvass sheets, barrels, colourful wood poles etc.
Natural horsemanship is used to train the youngsters. Here we have found that the Nooitgedacht horse is by far the most easy to train. They respond well and are very intelligent. The young horses are saddle trained; they receive the basics in dressage and do short trails where after they are put back in the herds to graze for another year.
Trained foals are then sold at the age of 4 years. By this time they are calm, trusting and pleasurable riding horses.
WEANING
At the age of 12-14 months only the colts are weaned and under the watchful eye of a guardian, and older gelding, are put into their own camp where they will remain until the winter arrives. During the winter months most of the colts are gelded and a small selection of good-looking colts will remain for a further season and their development will be monitored. If at the age of two going on three they show promising style they will be evaluated for breeding.
This method cuts down on large herds of stallions that make to smooth running of the operation quite difficult.
Fillies remain with the mares until they return to the breeding pool. They are naturally weaned at the age of 14 months, giving us strong, well-build future breeding stock.
THE MARKET
The Nooitgedacht horse has gained popularity in riding schools countrywide. They are willing, hard working, Intelligent and pleasant to work with. Their temperament makes them ideal mounts for children and beginners.
Many have been sold as trail horses due to their agility and stamina to cover long distances effortlessly.
|
Horse Breeding Contact |
||
|
Cherubim Equestrian |
Contact Name |
Contact E-Mail |
|
Horse Breeding |
Rosi |
|
| Phone | Fax | Street | P.O.Box | City | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +264 (62)572112 | +264 (62)572102 | info@weissenfelsnamibia.com | Guest FarmPlease view map | 2907 | Windhoek | NAMIBIA |